Gov. Scott: No downtown gun ban for GOP convention

Members of a group called the Coalition to March on the RNC said they plan to speak out against the limitations at a Tampa City Council meeting Thursday.

The guns issue is more complicated in Charlotte, host city for the Democratic National Convention. The city in January adopted an ordinance allowing it to set up "extraordinary event zones" - designated areas where people won't be allowed to carry backpacks and other items.

The city wanted to ban guns in those zones. State law, though, allows people to carry concealed weapons - unless they're at a parade or protest. That makes it unclear exactly where and when people are allowed to carry guns.

The Republicans will gather for the nominating convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa Aug. 27-30, and the Democrats will follow a week later at Charlotte's Time Warner Cable Arena. The Secret Service has banned civilians from carrying guns inside the arenas.

The federal government has given $50 million each to Charlotte and Tampa to help them pay for new security-related equipment, training and officer salaries.